Kelly Salmans looked up from the counter at Fish’N Marine Center in Lakeside the other day and saw a sight that reminded him of his youth.

“These six fishermen were standing there, drinking coffee and tellin’ lies about the fish they caught,” Salmans said. “I used to go with my dad to a coffee shop where the guys sat around and talked fishing. That’s what I want this place to be. Our big reason for opening this shop is go create a new home for fishermen, not just for bass fishermen, but for all anglers, freshwater and saltwater.”

Salmans and partner Andy Paluczak were fly fishermen in their youth, but now they’re avid largemouth bass anglers and members of the Old Pros Bass Club. They turned a huge, former air conditioning and heating factory on Mapleview Street into the area’s largest combination boat dealership, boat service department and fishing tackle shop. There’s 17,000 square feet in all, with 6,000 square feet devoted to service bays for boats, 5,000 square feet for a boat showroom and 3,000 square feet for a fishing tackle shop. The rest is in offices, downstairs and upstairs.

“Even our landlord fishes,” Paluczak said of building owner David Dudley, an accomplished angler and yacht owner.

There is an unmistakable, friendly and hospitable atmosphere in this new venture. It has a showroom feel to it, but yet, there’s the tackle store loaded with everything an angler might need. In the back, mechanics Mike Golubski and Bryan Sturn work their magic with boat repairs.

The cozy feel is by design. Paluczak, 41, the father of two young fishing kids, was a factory rep for Suzuki motorcycles and helped set up dealerships with marketing and promotion.

Salmans, 54, has dabbled in many aspects of outdoor recreation, from being a Scuba diving instructor to racing bicycles to pro bass fishing. He’s also an accomplished architect who designed some of San Diego’s high rises and still draws up custom, high-end homes. But he fell in love with bass fishing and on the marketing end has represented such bass pros as former San Diegan Dean Rojas. He’s also president of the San Diego Council of Bass Clubs.

The owners also have a social conscience and have raised money for the Crisis House in El Cajon. They plan to have a Kid’s Corner and events for kids. Salmans has raised hundreds of dollars in recent years through the Bass Council to help the San Diego Fly Fishers and their Chollas Lake bait and tackle shop.

Salmans wants bass pros to feel at home, but he welcomes all anglers, all levels.

“Any club that wants to meet here, we’re open for them,” Salmans said. “We have plenty of room.”

He and Paluczak plan to host seminars and lunches and will feature top touring fishermen as well as local experts.

“We’ll have one a month and feature local expert fishermen, but every third or fourth month, we’ll bring in a big dog like Dean Rojas, Skeet Reese or Ish Monroe.”